History

The mill

Previously known as Hareshaw Mill this old carding mill dates from 1784 and has gone through a number of uses, even hosting a bookshop at one point. The 1856 OS map records the location of the weir, sluice, and lade that diverted and carried water to the mill wheel from the Craufurdland Water. By 1910 the OS maps show that the wollen mill was no longer in use as a mill. Part of the mill became a private dwelling.

Although built as a carding mill, Waterside Mill was later also used for weaving. The wheelpit of the mill still survives. In 1910 the building became a creamery, and then a dairy under the management of the Fenwick Farming Co-operative. Waterside village grew up because of the jobs created by the mill.

Waterside Karori

Waterside Karori was formed in 19881 when Karori Swifts merged with Waterside. These two clubs had contrasting origins: Swifts were founded in 1894 from a Sunday School, and Waterside were founded in 1921 by dock workers. The current Waterside Karori club is still nicknamed Wharfies.

Waterside were originally based at Kaiwharawhara at Wellington's waterfront, a location still used by Waterside Karori. Waterside were a successful club at national level in New Zealand in the 1930s and 40s, winning the Chatham Cup in 1938, 1939, 1940 and 1947. However, the club was damaged by the wider effects of the 1951 waterfront strike and took years to recover.

Swifts were initially itinerant but settled in Karori in 1950, changing their name to Karori Swifts in the 1960s.

At the time of the merger Waterside had sponsorship and were playing in the National League, but had a relatively small player base. Swifts, on the other hand, had a large player base, both senior and junior, but lacked top-level success. The merged club adopted the Waterside strip of black and white vertical stripes with the maroon Swifts strip being retained as a second strip.